Browsing Category: LOCAL GUIDES

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer Yes. Beijing (北京 Běijīng) is generally one of the safest major cities in the world for international visitors. According to the licensed Beijing guides we work with, violent crime involving tourists is rare. Most visitors spend their entire trip without encountering any safety problems. That doesn’t mean you should stop being careful. Like any major city,...

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer Most first-time visitors should spend at least four full days in Beijing (北京 Běijīng). Five days is even better. Can you see Beijing in two days? Yes—but you’ll only scratch the surface. According to the licensed Beijing guides we work with, many visitors try to squeeze too much into too little time. The result is a...

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer Peking Duck (北京烤鸭 Běijīng Kǎoyā) deserves its reputation—but don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s the only food Beijing is famous for. According to the licensed Beijing guides we work with, many first-time visitors leave Beijing having tried only roast duck. That’s a shame. Beijing’s food culture includes hearty noodles, traditional breakfasts, Muslim cuisine, imperial desserts,...

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer For most first-time visitors, our licensed Beijing guides recommend staying near either 前门 (Qiánmén), 王府井 (Wángfǔjǐng) or 东四 (Dōngsì). Each offers excellent access to Beijing’s biggest attractions, public transport and restaurants, while providing a very different experience. If you love history, choose 前门 (Qiánmén). If convenience is your priority, 王府井 (Wángfǔjǐng) is hard to beat. If you prefer a quieter, more local atmosphere,...

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer For most first-time international visitors, our licensed Beijing guides recommend Mutianyu (慕田峪 Mùtiányù)over Badaling (八达岭 Bādálǐng). Both sections are beautifully restored and offer spectacular views of the Great Wall (长城 Chángchéng). However, Mutianyu is generally quieter, more scenic and easier to enjoy at your own pace. Badaling remains an excellent choice if you’re interested in visiting the Great Wall’s...

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer A licensed Beijing tour guide does far more than explain history. Behind every smooth day at the 故宫 (Gùgōng), 长城 (Chángchéng) or 颐和园 (Yíhéyuán) is hours of planning, monitoring ticket availability, adjusting routes for traffic, avoiding crowds and solving unexpected problems before visitors even notice them. To understand what really happens behind the scenes, we asked one of the licensed Beijing...

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer Most first-time visitors to Beijing make the same handful of mistakes—and thankfully, most are easy to avoid. According to the licensed Beijing guides we work with, the biggest problems aren’t getting lost or being scammed. They’re trying to do too much, underestimating Beijing’s size, and overlooking practical details that locals take for granted. Avoid these ten...

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer Most first-time visitors only see about half of what the Forbidden City has to offer. Almost everyone walks through the grand halls, takes photographs of the magnificent courtyards and leaves impressed by its size. But according to the licensed Beijing guides we work with, many visitors unknowingly walk past some of the palace’s most fascinating stories...

From Our Beijing GuidesAuthentic local advice from the licensed Beijing guides we work with. Quick Answer Yes—but not necessarily because it serves the best Peking duck in Beijing. Quanjude (全聚德) is Beijing’s most famous Peking duck restaurant and one of the city’s great culinary institutions. If you’re interested in experiencing a restaurant with more than 160 years of history, it’s still worth visiting. However, if your priority is simply enjoying the best overall...